100 years ago in The Record
Monday, Dec. 17, 1917
“Troy is to- day facing one of the most crucial moments of its history,” The Record reports, as thousands of newcomers take wartime jobs at the Watervliet rsenal. Arsenal commandant Col. William W. Gibson tells tonight’s meeting of the Troy Chamber of Commerce that “this city and vicinity will be flooded with an influx of from 10,000 to 20,000 persons. “You should be starting immediately on the work of preparation for the influx, instead of waiting until they arrive and then have them lie around wherever they might find accommodations, until houses can be built to accommodate them.” At the Arsenal alone, Gibson expects his workforce to expand from the current number of 1,200 people to 5,000 by next summer. He expects Troy and Watervliet to provide housing for at least two-thirds of the new workers. Albany is not an option, the commandant says, because the capital city “is too far away, the transportation problem is impossible and the 10- cent [train] fare makes it prohibitive for any great portion of this new population to locate there.” The Collar City can’t take it for granted that the Arsenal workers will settle here. “The men to be employed will be in the main skilled mechanics who will require good housing facilities,” Gibson says, “Unless these are available many of the men coming to work here will be forced to locate elsewhere.
“We have already had some men who have only remained a short time because they were unable to find comfortable homes to which they might bring their families. If such men are to be held here it is absolutely necessary that some united action be taken to see that the want is supplied.”
Gibson recommends “the uniting of moneyed interests, action by the community to this end, or, as a last resort, action by the government.” However, “If the government takes over this matter it may not prove of lasting benefit to the community.”
Troy mayor Cornelius F. Burns observes, “One of our troubles is that we have some men who have had lots of money and still have it.”
While Gibson emphasizes the need for housing, Major B. T. Converse focuses on improved rail service to the Arsenal.
“The railroad company now does not give us any service,” Converse notes, “The trolley service is inadequate to properly handle the present force. What will it be when our force is increased four times?”
Local governments should pressure the Delaware & Hudson railroad to build a station at the Arsenal, Converse urges, while the United Traction Company should be persuaded to send streetcars there more frequently.